USA is a community of leaders and learners who support and challenge one another through academic experiences, research and service that advance the Gulf Coast region and the world. South encourages creativity and discovery by linking experiential learning to real-world applications.
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South is a place where students discover and strengthen their passions, find their career paths, and form connections that result in lifelong relationships. At South, we look at the world and see things that we have the power to change, affect and shape — together. So that’s exactly what we do, every single day.
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College is an exciting time for you and your student, and we want to help you navigate through making your decision and finding resources for your student. Our website offers connections to assist you with admissions and financial aid, directions and scheduling a visit, and housing and dining options.
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Throw up your J and join us! As a member of the National Alumni Association, you adding value to your degree and support the many programs offered by the Association. Your membership gives back to USA, sets the foundation for the future, and entitles you to great benefits.
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A South education allows students to explore and develop interests that build the foundation of lifelong career paths. Our faculty are dedicated to helping students reach their maximum potential. And with more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, South provides plenty of avenues for discovery.
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USA researchers are problem-solvers and pioneers, and our faculty often collaborate across disciplines. The outcomes are high-quality scholarship, global partnerships, new information and opportunities, the transformation of traditional disciplines, and innovations that benefit society.
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South’s student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I sports, demonstrating excellence on the field and in the classroom. The Jaguars are a charter member of the Sun Belt Conference, and our alumni have gone on to notable professional careers in baseball, basketball, golf and football.
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Marine Sciences

Message from the Chair

Oceans dominate the Earth and exert a major influence on atmospheric dynamics and
terrestrial ecology. The wise stewardship of ocean resources is critical to the socioeconomic
fabric of coastal Alabama and the nation. Key to addressing this need is the development
of a well-trained scientific workforce and continued advances in research and technology.
The Department offers MS and Ph.D. degrees in marine sciences with specializations
in biological, chemical, physical and geological oceanography as well as marine fisheries
and ecology. Key to the success of the Department is its strong partnerships with
the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, which houses the majority of the Department’s research
labs and offices.

Departmental faculty continue their high rate of scholarly research every year. Faculty
members averaged close to five peer-reviewed publications a year (> 60 for the department)
and directed extramural grant expenditures of approximately $300,000 per faculty member.
For FY 2015, the Department received 2.5 million dollars in new research awards. The
grant funding stems from a diversity of federal, state and industry sources. Many
of our faculty members continue to dedicate much of their time to investigations of
the effects of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Journal articles that describe the effects of the oil spill on the oceanic
food web from microbes to marine mammals have been published over the last couple
of years and will continue to be published over the coming years. In addition to the
oil spill studies, Marine Sciences faculty members continue to examine some of the
most controversial subjects in the management of marine ecosystems including the current
management of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico, causes and consequences of global
climate change, and sustainability of coastal development.

The Department also serves as the administrative home for newly established Center
for Environmental Resiliency, an interdisciplinary organization designed to develop
solutions to pressing environmental problems within the context of creating resilient
and sustainable communities and ecosystems. The Center was made possible by a gift
from Dr. and Mrs. Stokes. The Center funded its first round of research projects in
March. Projects focus on understanding and mitigating several pressing environmental
problems facing the region from metal contamination in fish to the source and fates
of sulfur compounds in local streams.

Our graduate students continue to excel in their professional development as the next
generation of marine scientists. Student interest in the program remains high - for
fall 2015 the department received a record number of applicants (64) for our graduate
program. Several of our recent Ph.D. graduates have accepted academic positions at
other institutions – a key metric of a successful program. Given the success of our
existing graduate program and the need for a well-trained scientific workforce focused
on marine and coastal issues, the Department has created two new programs for the
Fall of 2015: an undergraduate minor in marine sciences (to encourage students in
physical, natural and social science areas to focus on marine related careers) and
a professional master’s degree in marine conservation and resource management.

The University of South Alabama is committed to teaching, research and service that
has beneficial impacts to our state, nation and planet. If you have an interest in
Marine Sciences please consider joining us at USA. I invite you to explore our web
site and contact faculty members whose interests align with yours.